House Panel To Consider Guns On Campuses
January 15, 2015
A House panel is expected next week to take up a bill that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on the campuses of state colleges and universities.
The bill (HB 4005), filed by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, is scheduled to be considered Tuesday by the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Senate Criminal Justice Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker, has filed an identical proposal (SB 176) in the Senate.
It comes after a shooting incident in November at Florida State University that left three people wounded and the gunman killed by police. Steube and other supporters have argued that allowing people to carry guns on campus could help prevent incidents such as the Florida State shooting.
But a similar bill failed in 2011, at least in part because of another shooting incident at the Tallahassee university. Ashley Cowie, 20, was at a campus party when a gun held by another student accidentally discharged, sending a bullet through her chest and killing her. The girl’s father lobbied against the 2011 bill, arguing that putting guns in an area where drugs and alcohol are commonly used would make campuses more dangerous.
Steube’s proposal will be the first bill taken up by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee as it prepares for the annual legislative session, which starts March 3.
by The News Service of Florida
Alabama Man Claims $56K Lottery Ticket Sold In Davisville
January 15, 2015
An Alabama man has claimed a $56,000 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week at a Nine Mile Road store.
Rodne M. Mims of Bay Minette purchased the ticket for the January 7 drawing at Grey Goose on Highway 97 in Davisville. The ticket was one of four winning tickets worth $56,900.34. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Jacksonville and Miami
The 265 tickets matching four numbers won $138.50 each. Another 8,473 tickets matching three numbers are worth $12 each, and 87,204 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Wednesday’s winning numbers were 15-20-28-32-34.
Bill Would Revamp Medicaid Dental Care In Florida
January 15, 2015
Reviving an issue that has sparked heavy debate, a South Florida senator Wednesday proposed creating a new dental program for children in the Medicaid program. The proposal filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami would establish a program that would be separate from the state’s new Medicaid managed-care system.
Under the proposal, the state would contract with at least two prepaid dental health plans, which would have networks of dentists throughout the state. It also would direct the Agency for Health Care Administration to seek federal approval for the program, which would be slated to take effect by Sept. 1, 2016.
“The Legislature finds that an overriding concern in the design and delivery of Medicaid dental services is ensuring the dental health of children,” the bill says. “Due to the unique challenges that exist in the delivery of Medicaid dental services and considering the historical shortcomings of access to such services in this state, special attention must be given to the issues of children’s access to dental services and provider network sustainability.”
Similar proposals died last year in the House and Senate, with opponents arguing, at least in part, that lawmakers should not “carve out” children’s dental services from the statewide managed-care system. Under that system, almost all beneficiaries are enrolled in HMOs and other types of managed-care plans that are required to provide a variety of health services.
by The News Service of Florida
Beulahfest Canceled, No Plans For Any Future Shows
January 14, 2015
Organizers announced this morning that the annual Beulahfest has been canceled for this year and that “there will not be another Beulahfest”.
“With (a) heavy heart however, the committee has decided to forgo the 2015 Beulahfest and any subsequent festivals. For the committee to feel completely comfortable in proceeding with the festivals, additional sponsorships and donations needed to be secured. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure those funds to produce the same quality of entertainment that we have provided in the past. We were blessed to have many years of community support and we hope that you take away fond memories of the past festivals,” Dorrian Vance, Beulahfest public information officer, said in a press release.
The music festival has been held since 1986 when it was the Beulah Sausage Festival, raising money for local charities and providing funds for firefighter training and recruitment.
The 2015 event was scheduled for March 20-21 at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. The annual event was to receive $25,000 in county funding this year — $20,000 from discretionary funds from Commissioner Wilson Robertson and $5,000 from Commissioner Steven Barry — to assist with costs.
“We thank the Escambia County Commissioners Wilson Robertson and Steven Barry for their financial commitment, and the private sector committed sponsors for their support,” Vance said. “We want to send a very special thank you to the Thompson and Whaley families and the volunteers that have helped make the last 28 years a success.” The Thompson family was the sausage provider for the former Sausage Festival, which was hosted on property near the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department owned by Jim and Joyce Whaley.
Past performers at the event have included a variety of country music stars….Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Diamond Rio, Lone Star, Tracy Byrd, Terri Clark, Travis Tritt, Lee Ann Womack, Lynard Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels and many more.
Pictured: Last year’s Beulahfest entertainers Lynyrd Skynyrd (top), Charlie Daniels (inset), and Rodney Atkins (below). NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Parents, Educators Learn Ways To Increase Student Brain Power
January 14, 2015
Parents should be engaged in the education of their children — that was the message Tuesday night from world-renowned educational consultant Marcia Tate during a workshop at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
About 75 adults, both parents and educators, attended the two-hour “Preparing Children for Success in School and Life: 20 Ways to increase Your Child’s Brain Power” event where they learned a variety of skills for parenting a better students or improving classroom learning. Many of the sessions had the audience on their feet, participating and moving.
She focused on 20 brain-building ideas from her bestselling books on how brain power can be increased — from movement and role playing during learning, storytelling, to colors and sounds, to important relationships within the family.
Tate conceded that it is hard being a parent in today’s society, but raising prepared children is still a very viable option. One a 40-point “Developmental Assets for Adolescents” checklist completed by attendees, Tate admitted she could only check about three-quarters of positive attributes.
“Was I a perfect parent? Not on your life,” Tate said. “But the point is to strive to better and better.”
Tate is the former executive director of Professional Development for the DeKalb County School System in Georgia. During her 30-year career with the district, she was a classroom teacher, reading specialist, language arts coordinator, and a staff development executive director. As an educational consultant, she has taught more than 350,000 administrators, teachers, parents, and business and community leaders throughout the world, and she is the author of five bestsellers.
Pictured top inset: Educational consultant Marcia Tate presents workshop Tuesday night at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. Pictured above and below: Parents and educators take part in Tate’s worskhop sessions. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Set To Be Executed Thursday For 1993 Murder
January 14, 2015
An Escambia County man is set to be executed Thursday for first-degree murder and sexual battery during a home-invasion robbery in 1993 in Escambia County.
Johnny Shane Kormondy, 42, to set to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday. The execution will be the 21st since Gov. Rick Scott took office in January 2011, equaling the number overseen by former Gov. Jeb Bush, which is the most for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Kormondy was found guilty in 1994 in the death of Gary McAdams, a local banker who was shot in the back of the head during a home-invasion robber in the Thousand Oaks subdivision off Chemstrand Road. McAdams and his wife, who was repeatedly raped during the attack, had returned home from a Woodham High School school reunion when confronted at the front door by Kormondy and his two accomplices.
Kormondy was the leader of the attack, recruiting the accomplices, providing transportation and casing the McAdams’ neighborhood. Kormondy’s accomplices, Curtis Buffkin and James Hazen, received life sentences. Law enforcement was able to close the case when a person to whom Kormondy confessed went to police seeking a $50,000 reward for information. Kormondy also threatened to kill witnesses who testified at his trial, including Mrs. McAdams, if he were ever released.
The robbers reportedly left the house with $20.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured below: The death warrant for Johnny Shane Kormondy signed in November by Gov. Rick Scott.
Programs To Assist With Understanding Of 2014 Farm Bill
January 14, 2015
A Escambia County Extension program Thursday in Walnut Hill and Friday in Jay will provide information and analysis to assist producers and landowners in understanding what’s required and to make decisions on the 2014 Farm Bill.
Meetings will be conducted by University of Florida agricultural economists John Van Sickle and Rod Clouser and the USDA Farm Service Agency. A question and answer and discussion will be included.
Topics to be covered include:
- Decisions to be made, who makes them and the timeline: multiple owner and producer issues
- Opportunity to update payment yields: How it’s done
- Crop history: Opportunity to reallocate base acres and how reallocation works
- Choosing between PLC and ARC: How each works and how they compare
- Generic base: Assigning “covered commodities” to generic base
- STAX: The new safety net for cotton
- Resources and decision-aids available to help make decisions
Dates and Locations:
Thursday, January 15, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Walnut Hill Community Center 7850 Florida 97, Walnut Hill
- Contact Libbie Johnson, libbiej@ufl.edu (850) 475-5230
Friday, January 16, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.,
- Jay Community Center 5259 Booker Lane, Jay
- Contact Mike Donahoe mcd@ufl.edu (850) 623-3868
Century Man Charged With Weapons Offense, Resisting Deputies
January 14, 2015
A Century man awaiting trail for allegedly torching a vehicle in a Century ballpark has been arrested on additional, unrelated charges.
When deputies responded to the Relax Inn on Mobile Highway on a separate call, they reported 18-year old Aubrey Odom III acting elusively and attempting to evade them. When deputies made contact with Odom, he would not answer if he had any weapons on his person while keeping his hands hidden in the front portion of his pants. Odom attempted to run but was subdued, according to an arrest report.
He then admitted to having a weapon in his pants, and deputies reported finding a loaded semi-automatic handgun.
Odom was charged with a felony count of carrying a concealed firearm and resisting an officer without violence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000 on the recent charges and for the arson-related charges from last July.
Odom was charged with arson in the second degree, criminal mischief and vehicle theft for the July 1, 2014, incident in which a care was allegedly stolen from the Food Giant in Century and burned in a local ballpark.
The fire was reported about 7:15 a.m. behind an concession stand at the Lloyd Barrow Field on Church Street. The 1993 Buick Century was in an area not normally accessible to vehicle traffic. A witness said the vehicle had no tag attached.
The ballpark’s concession stand, owned by the town of Century, suffered minor damage, with vinyl siding melted off the back of the building. Damage to the building was estimated at less than $2,000.
Man Gets 25 Years For Assaulting Minor
January 14, 2015
An Escambia County man was sentenced Tuesday to prison and designated a sexual predator.
John Roberts-Paladino was sentenced by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles to 25 years on state prison. He was convicted in October 2014 of sexual battery on a minor.
Prosecutors said the victim’s allegations were corroborated by DNA that was found on the scene by investigators from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Watkins Graduates From Army Unmanned Aircraft Training
January 14, 2015
PFC David T. Watkins has graduated Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairer training. The unmanned aircraft repairer is primarily responsible for the maintenance functions on unmanned aerial vehicles, keeping the aircraft in flight condition and ensuring their ability to collect and transmit information.
Watkins’ first duty station is at Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. He has been promoted twice since joining the Army.
Watkins is the son of Amber Fletcher of Molino and Tommy Watkins of Manor, TX. He is a graduate of Siatech Charter High School and the pre-law program at Job Corp in Gainesville.